More than 200 jobs at Alton Towers are being outsourced by the resort's owner Merlin.

The company is transferring the housekeeping teams at Alton Towers' four hotels to outsourcing giant WGC.

It is believed around 219 workers will be affected by the change. They have been told if they transfer they will receive a £100 bonus, but claim if they refuse their employment could be terminated and they will not be entitled to redundancy pay.

Staff members are demanding answers from Merlin, as they fear that once their jobs are outsourced they could be forced to work at other sites.

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One worker, who wanted to remain anonymous, said morale was low among staff.

She said: “We have been told we need to transfer by September 11. When we joined we were told that we could advance with Merlin and now we just feel we are being dropped. “There are staff who have been here for 20 years. With the new company it could mean we are sent to work at other places which we don’t want to do.

“We take pride in our work here and we want answers.”

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Labour councillor Chris Wood, chairman of the service delivery overview & scrutiny panel at Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, said: “I am disappointed to be honest. I can only assume that this is a cost saving measure.

“I would urge the nearly 220 employees to look at their new contracts and the terms and conditions in these contracts.

“I go to Alton Towers with family and all of the workers do a fantastic job but there is no loyalty to staff anymore. If you do a good job you can still be replaced with someone to save a few quid.

A spokesman for Alton Towers said: “Over the past two years, Alton Towers Resort has undertaken a detailed review of its workforce productivity. In order to maximise efficiencies, we do propose to outsource our housekeeping services to an external company, transferring the employment of staff within this department to the new organisation under the TUPE legislation. With four on-site hotels, we do believe this will help us operate a more efficient business and protect jobs for our current employees.”

WGC has yet to comment on the contracts being offered to the existing members of staff.